Field Study Research Articles

Assessing seed treatments to control sudden death syndrome caused by Fusarium virguliforme and seedling and root disease caused by root and Rhizoctonia sp. on mungbeans (Vigna radiata L.)

There is growing interest in producing mungbean (Vigna radiata L. Wilczek) in the U.S., which is driven by increased consumer demand. Strategies are needed for U.S. farmers to take advantage of this high-value crop and its environmental sustainability. Recommendations for the management of mungbean seedling and root diseases are lacking. Preliminary research in central Iowa mungbean fields from 2019 to 2023 has shown that mungbean is particularly vulnerable to Fusarium virguliforme, the cause of soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS), and Rhizoctonia sp., the cause of damping-off, root decay, premature defoliation, and pod abortion. The purpose of this study was to screen a variety of fungicides as a seed treatment or a soil band application to control root rot in mungbeans. We performed three field studies over two years using mungbean cultivars, Berken and OK2000. Seed treatments Evergol Energy + Fluopyram and Evergol Energy + Pydiflumetofen showed the highest performance (P<0.05) with ~30% more healthy roots than nontreated controls. Other treatments exhibited about 20% more healthy roots than the nontreated control. Biotam in-furrow application showed the highest plant population for cv. OK2000, but we observed no treatment differences in plant stand for cv. Berken.

Assessment of slope stability with study parametric of faults (shear joints) using the lower and upper limit analysis method

Slope instability is widespread throughout the world, has become well known to geotechnical engineers, and poses a major challenge. The causes of slope slippage vary, which is why it is considered important and dangerous. Until now, researchers are trying to understand this phenomenon and the extent to which it is affected by surrounding elements, such as the slope ratio, slope height, water level, soil properties, and other physical and chemical properties. In this research, we will discuss one of the characteristics, which is the presence of cracks on slopes. The presence of combined shear on slopes poses a challenge to geotechnical engineers to determine field mechanical parameters, analyze, and study these slopes. In this research, we studied the effect of faulting on slopes. We changed the crack in the slope in five cases, and in each case we changed the length of the crack (21.5 m, 16.2 m, 11.2 m, 7.5 m, 3.5 m) and its location (five places) in order to understand a fracture. Slope behavior as a result of the effect of crack length and location on the safety factor, failure of the slope surface, and deformations of this slope using the top and bottom analysis method. This study provides valuable insights into the effects of fault zones on slope stability using OptumG2 software. It is helpful for us to use these results to better understand slope sliding, and from this, we can reduce the risk of sliding in areas where cracked soil is present.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium co‐limitation in terrestrial ecosystems: A global meta‐analysis

Societal Impact StatementNitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are essential elements for plant growth and are the primary nutrients in commercial fertilizers. However, the extent to which these nutrients individually limit plant growth is still unclear, as is the influence of their interactions. Using a meta‐analysis approach, plant growth was found to be co‐limited by nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Furthermore, these findings demonstrate that multiple nutrient additions are primarily additive, with the exception of synergistic effects observed with NP additions on plant growth. These findings are important as they provide a timely and valuable reference for assessing the ecosystem‐scale consequences of increasing nutrient deposition caused by human activities.Summary Numerous field studies and a few meta‐analyses have confirmed that terrestrial primary production is individually or jointly limited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Meanwhile, a recent synthesis emphasized that potassium (K) limitation in terrestrial ecosystems is more widespread than previously thought. However, it remains unclear whether N, P, and K co‐limit terrestrial production and how their interactions influence plant growth. Therefore, we conducted a globally comprehensive synthesis of a total 2877 observations to explore the individual and interactive effects of N, P, and K additions on plant growth. We found that N, P, K, NP, NK, PK, and NPK additions significantly increased aboveground biomass production (AGP) by 30.8%, 15.3%, 12.3%, 68.4%, 36.5%, 21.1%, and 78.7%, respectively. The combined addition of multiple nutrients resulted in a larger increase in AGP than a single addition of nutrients. These findings suggested that terrestrial production is widely co‐limited by N, P, and K. However, no significant responses of belowground biomass production (BGP) to nutrient additions were observed. Except for synergistic interactions between N and P additions, the responses of AGP to other pairs of nutrient additions were predominantly additive. This meta‐analysis highlights the importance of multiple‐nutrient limitation in regulating terrestrial primary production while pointing out that non‐additive effects (including synergistic and antagonistic) of multiple‐nutrient additions on terrestrial production are relatively rare.

COMMUNITY SYMPATHY-BASED SLUM SANITATION PLANNING CONCEPT IN BATU BARA DISTRICT, NORTH SUMATERA, INDONESIA

ABSTRACT Slums in the Tanjung Tiram area of Batu Bara Regency are caused by high and uneven population density, limited habitable land and low awareness of environmental conservation among residents. This results in poor environmental sanitation and potentially affects environmental sustainability. The local government is trying to improve this situation through slum upgrading and community empowerment programs. Objectives: This study aims to examine community sympathy for the spatial concept and environmental sanitation improvement programs in Tanjung Tiram neighborhood, as well as the factors that influence it. Methodology and Results: The research method was qualitative with a rationalist approach. The study began with literature analysis and continued with field studies to describe community sympathy in sanitation management, identify patterns of behavior change, and analyze the factors that influence it. Conclusion, Significance, and Implication: The results highlight that the community demonstrated empathy through responsibility and mutual concern for the interests of others, such as involvement in the sanitation improvement process from preparation to monitoring in terms of toilet and bathroom use. Community motivation comes from cadre interventions that provide understanding, increase empathy and responsibility, and strengthen community motivation in sanitation management. Community cooperation and awareness must be increased through community empowerment programs.

Syrian Immigrants in the Malta Bazaar of Istanbul: Changing Rules of the Trade Game and Negotiation between the Capitals

ABSTRACT This article examines the socio-spatial transformations of the Malta Bazaar in Istanbul and the new Syrian shopkeepers as potential game changers. We argue that the transformation of the bazaar cannot be seen solely as a commercial venture, but can also be read as a dynamic playground of understanding and tolerance, as well as emerging social, cultural and economic contrasts and tensions. To test these arguments, we designed a field study with an ethnographic approach. The central theme of our research is to read the role of Syrians in the social reproduction of space through potential changes in the rules of the game in a micro-space. We adopted Pierre Bourdieu's concepts of field and habitus to relate the micro-level experiences of actors in space to broader macro contexts. As a result, we concluded that the change in the rules of the game should be defined as a process of mutual uneasiness. What happens in the field at this stage is an attempt to fit into a single space where negotiation rather than cooperation is more prominent and mutual compromises are inevitably made.

Topical Toxicity and Repellency Profiles of 17 Essential Oil Components against Insecticide-Resistant and Susceptible Strains of Adult Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae)

The house fly is a significant pest in agriculture and human health that is increasingly difficult to manage due to multiple limitations including resistance development. To explore alternative pesticides, the topical toxicity and repellency profiles of 17 essential oil components (EOCs) were evaluated against a resistant and a susceptible strain of house fly, Musca domestica L., using topical application and Y-tube olfactometers, respectively. Six of the most toxic EOCs based on the LD50 were further investigated against a susceptible strain of house fly. Thymol, (+)-pulegone, eugenol, and carvacrol were always the top four most toxic chemicals tested against the resistant house fly strain. Little to no resistance was observed to the top six EOCs based on the comparison of the results between resistant and susceptible house fly strains. P-Cymene, citronellic acid, R-(+)-limonene, linalool, γ-terpinene, estragole, and eugenol were repellent to adult house flies at certain concentrations while (-)-carvone and thymol were attractive to adult house flies. This screening of a wide variety of individual EOCs provides a stronger foundation of information for further research. This should encourage further investigation into the topical toxicity and repellency in field studies, which will provide more insight into the performance of biopesticides for house fly management and potential commercialization.

The Impact of Lean Manufacturing Practices in Enhancing Sustainable Performance through Lean Culture: Field Study at the General Company for Food Products – Baghdad

The study aimed to determine the effect of lean manufacturing practices in enhancing sustainable performance by mediating the lean culture in the General Company for Food Products in Baghdad, the field of study represented by the factories (Al-Maamoun, Al-Rasheed, and Al-Amin), where the study included the independent variable of lean manufacturing practices in their dimensions (comprehensive productive maintenance, map). Value flow, production on time, speed of preparation and preparation) in achieving sustainable performance in its dimensions (economic performance, social performance, environmental performance) by mediating the lean culture in its dimensions (continuous improvement, organizing the work site, reducing waste, and lean thinking). The study attempted to answer the questions that express the problem of the study, including: Is there an effect of lean manufacturing practices and the lean culture in achieving sustainable performance? The questionnaire was distributed to a sample of technicians in the company’s factories in the field of study. The study relied on the questionnaire as the main tool for collecting data through a random sample that included (218) technicians working in the factories under study. Some statistical methods were used for the two ready-made programs (SPSS, v.28, AOMS, V.26(. The study results that the primacy of the variables based on their relative importance, as they were respectively (lean culture, lean manufacturing, and sustainable performance). The results of the study showed that there is an effect of lean manufacturing practices in sustainable performance through the lean culture, The Food Industries Company was able to reduce unnecessary activities by using a lean culture to reduce waste, and this led to improving and sustaining performance in the company’s field of study.

LOFAR Deep Fields: Probing the sub-mJy regime of polarized extragalactic sources in ELAIS-N1. I. The catalog

Quantifying the number density and physical characteristics of extragalactic polarized sources is important for the successful planning of future studies based on Faraday rotation measure (RM) grids of polarized sources to probe foreground Galactic and intergalactic magnetic fields. However, it is proving very hard to detect polarized signal from the population of very faint (sub-mJy) polarized sources at low radio frequencies, and their properties are mostly unknown. LOFAR can play an important role in such studies thanks to its sensitivity and angular resolution, combined with the precision on the inferred RM values that can be achieved through low-frequency broad-band polarimetry. The aim of this study is to probe the sub-mJy polarized source population with LOFAR. In this first paper, we present the method used to stack LOFAR polarization datasets, the resulting catalog of polarized sources, and the derived polarized source counts. The European Large Area ISO Survey-North 1 (ELAIS-N1) field, one of the deepest of the LOFAR Two-Metre Sky Survey (LoTSS) Deep Fields so far, was selected for a polarimetric study at 114.9–177.4 MHz. A total area of 25 deg$^2$ was imaged at 6"-resolution in the Stokes $Q$ and $U$ parameters. Alignment of polarization angles was done both in frequency and in Faraday space before stacking datasets from 19 eight-hour-long epochs taken in two different LOFAR observing cycles. A search for polarized sources was carried out in the final, stacked dataset, and the properties of the detected sources were examined. The depolarization level of sources known to be polarized at 1.4 GHz was quantified. A one-sigma noise level, $ QU $, of 19 mu Jy/beam was reached in the central part of the field after stacking. Twenty-five polarized sources were detected above 8$ QU $, five of which had not been detected in polarization at any other radio frequencies before. Seven additional polarized components were found by lowering the threshold to 6$ QU $ at positions corresponding to sources known to be polarized at 1.4 GHz. In two radio galaxies, polarization was detected from both radio lobes, so the final number of associated radio continuum sources is 31. The detected sources are weakly polarized, with a median degree of polarization of 1.75<!PCT!> for the sample of sources detected in polarized emission. For the 10 polarized sources previously identified in a pilot LOFAR study of the ELAIS-N1 field at 20"-resolution, the RM values are consistent but the degrees of polarization are higher in the 6"-resolution data. The sources previously detected in polarization at 1.4 GHz are significantly depolarized at 150 MHz. The catalog is used to derive the polarized source counts at 150 MHz. This is the deepest and highest-resolution polarization study at 150 MHz to date. A full characterization of the sources and an analysis of the catalog will be presented in Paper II.

Geochronology and Geochemistry of Granitic Pegmatites from Tashidaban Li Deposit in the Central Altun Tagh, Northwest China

The Central Altun orogenic system is a result of the amalgamation of multiple micro-continental blocks and island arcs. This complex system originated from subduction–accretion–collision processes in the Proto-Tethys Ocean during the Early Paleozoic. Research has reported the discovery of several Li-Be granitic pegmatite deposits in the Central Altun Block, including the North Tugeman granitic pegmatite Li-Be deposit, Tugeman granitic pegmatite Be deposit, Tashisayi granitic pegmatite Li deposit, South Washixia granitic pegmatite Li deposit, and Tamuqie granitic pegmatite Li deposit. The Tashidaban granitic pegmatite Li deposit has been newly discovered along the northern margin of the Central Altun Block. Field and geochemical studies of the Tashidaban granitic pegmatite Li deposit indicate: (1) Spodumene pegmatites and elbaite pegmatites, as Li-bearing granitic pegmatites that form the Tashidaban granitic pegmatite Li deposit, intrude into the two-mica schist, and marble of the Muzisayi Formation of the Tashidaban Group. (2) Columbite–tantalite group minerals and zircon U-Pb dating results indicate that the mineralization age of Tashidaban Li granitic pegmatites is 450.2 ± 2.4 Ma with a superimposed magmatic event at around 418–422 Ma later. (3) Whole-rock geochemical results indicate that the Kumudaban rock sequence belongs to the S-type high-K to calc-alkaline granites and the Tashidaban Li granitic pegmatites originated from the extreme differentiation by fractional crystallization of the Kumdaban granite pluton.

Evolution repeats itself in replicate long-term studies in the wild.

The extent to which evolution is repeatable remains debated. Here, we study changes over time in the frequency of cryptic color-pattern morphs in 10 replicate long-term field studies of a stick insect, each spanning at least a decade (across 30 years of total data). We find predictable "up-and-down" fluctuations in stripe frequency in all populations, representing repeatable evolutionary dynamics based on standing genetic variation. A field experiment demonstrates that these fluctuations involve negative frequency-dependent natural selection (NFDS). These fluctuations rely on demographic and selective variability that pushes populations away from equilibrium, such that they can reliably move back toward it via NFDS. Last, we show that the origin of new cryptic forms is associated with multiple structural genomic variants such that which mutations arise affects evolution at larger temporal scales. Thus, evolution from existing variation is predictable and repeatable, but mutation adds complexity even for traits evolving deterministically under natural selection.

Levels of Iraqi Newspapers’ Commitment to Standards of Objectivity from the Perspective of the Public in Baghdad: A Field Study of the Public in Baghdad

The research discusses the levels of commitment to the standards of objectivity by Iraqi newspapers. Several standards of objectivity were identified, and the public was asked about the extent of their application in journalistic work from the point of view of the sample members, which consists of 375 individuals representing the public of the city of Baghdad of various ages, professions, educational levels, and gender. The research consists of a methodological framework, a theoretical framework, and an applied study. The researcher adopted the descriptive approach and a questionnaire form with closed questions.

Analyzing Identity Storytelling for On-site Learning in Museums

This research investigates the specific designs of on-site identity storytelling in city museums, made of three case studies with an Identity Education (IdEd) framework proposed in an early conference paper by the author. Conclusions of the case studies are reached on how the city museums take advantage of different contextual factors to engage the visitors of five motivational types, whether there is any gap between the target identity expected by the city and the identity narratives presented by the city museum, and if any, how huge the gap is. The subsequent discussion, comparing the three cases, makes this research a comparative study and provides suggestions for each city museum. In general, this research sets an example of how the IdEd framework could be applied to the evaluation of on-site learning materials and opportunities in museums, thereby helping better the instructional design on the part of curators and offering guidelines for observing the museum visitors’ learning experiences in future field studies with similar educational concerns.

Substitution mapping of yield‐related traits utilizing three Cybonnet rice × wild introgression libraries

AbstractImproving rice (Oryza sativa L.) yields is a major objective of breeding programs worldwide. The Oryza rufipogon species complex (ORSC), which includes the rice ancestral species O. rufipogon Griff. and O. nivara S. D. Sharma & Shastry, is an underutilized resource. Using three phenotypically and genotypically diverse ORSC accessions identified as OrA, OrB, and OrC, three Cybonnet × ORSC chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) libraries were developed to make this genepool more accessible to breeders. The objective was to characterize these libraries for 20 yield‐related traits to discover genes not currently deployed for rice improvement. Cybonnet and 212 CSSLs from these libraries were evaluated for 2 years in field studies for six agronomic, six panicle architecture, and eight seed traits. Across the three libraries, 62 CSSLs were found to be significantly different from Cybonnet for one or more traits. Of these, 27 CSSLs were significantly different for seed size traits. To ascertain the chromosome region and underlying candidate gene(s) causing these differences, substitution mapping was performed with previously reported genotypes. Mapping with the CSSLs, which had delayed heading under long days, revealed five known genes associated with rice flowering time pathways. The OsMADS50, RFT1, HD3A, SE1, and GHD7 genes were mapped in the OrB and OrC derived CSSLs but only OsMADS50 mapped in the OrA derived CSSLs. Employing this approach for the other 19 traits revealed 28 total candidate genes. A total of 12 of these genes are currently not deployed for yield enhancement. The introgressed ORSC regions associated with these genes are potential sources of novel variation for rice improvement.

Plant growth regulators differentially suppress goosegrass and smooth crabgrass in creeping bentgrass turf

Abstract Goosegrass and smooth crabgrass control in creeping bentgrass is difficult due to a lack of selective herbicides. Based on preliminary field observations, we hypothesized that paclobutrazol and flurprimidol would reduce the overall competitiveness of goosegrass and smooth crabgrass in creeping bentgrass. Greenhouse and field studies were designed to evaluate the effect of several plant growth regulators (PGRs) on goosegrass and smooth crabgrass competitive indices. In greenhouse studies, flurprimidol, paclobutrazol, trinexapac-ethyl, and prohexadione-calcium were applied either preemergence only or preemergence plus two biweekly postemergence applications to goosegrass and smooth crabgrass plants to simulate the first 1.5 months of typical PGR programs utilized on golf courses. Two wk after the final postemergence treatment, above-ground biomass, and root biomass were recorded. Programmatic flurprimidol and paclobutrazol applications reduced smooth crabgrass above-ground biomass 67 and 69%, respectively, and more than trinexapac ethyl or prohexadione-calcium. When averaged across application programs, flurprimidol and paclobutrazol reduced smooth crabgrass root biomass 74% and goosegrass biomass 73-80%. Field studies were established to further evaluate the influence of PGR on smooth crabgrass coverage in creeping bentgrass turf. Treatments consisting of flurprimidol, trinexapac-ethyl, flurprimidol plus trinexapac-ethyl, paclobutrazol, and fenoxaprop-p were applied every three wk from April to August. Weed coverage data were collected throughout the growing season, and final smooth crabgrass control data were collected at the end of the season. In general, flurprimidol-containing treatments more effectively reduced smooth crabgrass coverage throughout the growing season than trinexapac ethyl. After the studies, flurprimidol containing programs controlled smooth crabgrass 68-73%, greater than any other PGR program evaluated. Results from these studies indicate flurprimidol may be used to control smooth crabgrass or goosegrass in creeping bentgrass turf effectively. These are the first reported data regarding the use of flurprimidol for smooth crabgrass or goosegrass control in turf.

Islamic Economic Values of Traders in Traditional Markets in Riau, Indonesia

This article aims to study the ethics and values of Islamic economics in traders who still survive selling in traditional markets. The exploration of Islamic economic values and ethics as the theme of the study is motivated by the assumption that the trade order has shifted to a modern direction and partly results in the loss of ethics and values in several trading transaction systems. This research is a field study at several traditional markets in Tembilahan, Indragiri Hilir, Riau, an area called "Negeri Seribu Parit". The analysis uses a descriptive-qualitative approach from observation data, documentation, and interviews. The results showed that the traders in the Tembilahan traditional market had diverse ethnic backgrounds; where there was a majority of Malays from the Riau area, some were Minangkabau, then there were the Bugis, Makasar, Banjar Borneo, and what was unique was that there were very few Javanese. Even so, so far, the Javanese are very much found in several regions of Indonesia. Many traders in the Tembilahan traditional market still practice Islamic economic values and ethics. First, most of these diverse ethnic groups have an Islamic background, so understanding and teachings are still inherent in every behavior. Second, traditional markets that still survive are classified into different segments, such as the fish market, dawn market, squat market, and others, so that the value of competition in the modern market often "allows all means" to get as much profit as possible can still be controlled by the association of traders, and the local government.

Understanding how Latinx youth cope with discrimination: A call to action.

Racial-ethnic discrimination leads to poorer academic and mental health outcomes for Latinx youth. Although there is a growing literature on the resilience processes that shield Latinx youth from the negative ramifications of these experiences, there is limited work that specifically considers the coping behaviors and processes that youth enact to counter the harmful impact of racial-ethnic discrimination. This limited work is further hampered by a lack of measurement tools that account for the uniqueness of racial-ethnic discrimination as a stressor and the culturally relevant coping strategies endemic to Latinx populations. This article reviews the mixed findings among studies that have examined discrimination, coping strategies, and Latinx youth outcomes. Furthermore, the pressing need for a new measure that would better capture the nuanced manner in which Latinx adolescents cope with racism-related stress is outlined. This work concludes with methodological considerations as well as recommendations for the field's study of coping with the insidious impact of racism-related stress among Latinx adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

#1469 Predicting mortality risk in incident dialysis patients using clinical predictors and patient-reported predictors

Abstract Background and Aims Prognostic prediction models can be used to identify dialysis patients that are at high risk of dying. By doing so, vulnerable patients can be monitored more closely and treatment can be intensified where needed. In addition, individualized predictions can help inform patients about their prognosis. Traditionally, prognostic models primarily rely on known clinical predictors such as age, comorbidities and laboratory markers. Although it is still unchartered territory in the field of nephrology, studies in other fields have shown that patient-reported predictors, like pain and fatigue, can be of use as predictors of survival. Predictive performance of current prognostic models for mortality risk amongst dialysis patients is subpar and we hypothesized that the addition of patient-reported predictors may improve predictions. Therefore, we aimed to develop a novel prognostic model for the prediction of two-year mortality in patients starting dialysis using both clinical predictors and patient-reported predictors. Method Data from the Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis (NECOSAD) were used to develop two prognostic models for the prediction of 2-year all-cause mortality in incident dialysis patients: a base model consisting of clinical predictors and an updated model containing additional patient-reported predictors. Missing data were handled using a tenfold multiple imputation with fully conditional specification. The imputation model included all candidate predictors as well as the outcome variable of 2-year mortality. Predictors for the base model were selected based on existing mortality models and clinical expertise. Patient-reported predictors to add to the base model were chosen based on availability in NECOSAD, clinical expertise and literature describing patient-reported predictors. The models were developed using multivariate logistic regression and their discriminative abilities were assessed by calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Results A total of 1956 patients from NECOSAD were used for the analyses. Of these, 447 (22.9%) died within two years after baseline (3 months after dialysis initiation). The base model contained the following predictors: age, sex, serum albumin, C-reactive protein, diabetes mellitus, hemoglobin, residual kidney function (GFR at 3 months), body mass index, cardiovascular disease, dialysis modality, malignancy and primary kidney disease. The discriminative abilities of the base model were moderate with a AUC of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.77-0.82). The base model was updated using the following patient-reported predictors: mental component score, physical component score, general health perception, number of symptoms, symptom burden (measured with the KDQOL instrument) depressive symptoms, fatigue and pain. The addition of the patient-reported predictors marginally improved the predictive performance of the model achieving an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.79-0.84). Conclusion The base model including clinical predictors was enhanced slightly by the addition of patient-reported predictors.

The monsoon-associated equine South African pointy mosquito 'Aedes caballus'; the first comprehensive record from southeastern Iran with a description of ecological, morphological, and molecular aspects.

The equine South African pointy vector mosquito, Aedes caballus, poses a significant threat to human health due to its capacity for transmitting arboviruses. Despite favorable climate for its existence in southeast Iran, previous records of this species in the area have indicated very low abundance. This comprehensive field and laboratory study aimed to assess its current adult population status in this region, utilizing a combination of ecological, morphological and molecular techniques. Four distinct types of traps were strategically placed in three fixed and two variable mosquito sampling sites in the southern strip of Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Subsequently, DNA was extracted from trapped mosquitoes and subjected to PCR amplification using the molecular markers COI, ITS2, and ANT. In total, 1734 adult Ae. caballus specimens were collected from rural areas, with the majority being captured by CO2-baited bednet traps. A notable increase in the abundance of this species was observed following rainfall in February. The genetic analysis revealed multiple haplotypes based on COI and ITS2 sequences, with COI gene divergence at 0.89%, and ITS2 sequence divergence at 1.6%. This suggests that previous challenges in morphological identification may have led to misidentifications, with many adults previously classified as Ae. vexans potentially being Ae. caballus. The findings of this study hold significant implications for public health authorities, providing valuable insights for integrated and targeted vector control and disease management efforts.

Internal Force Mechanism of Pisha Sandstone as a Soil Amendment to Improve Sandy Soil Structural Stability in Mu Us Sandy Land

Compounding Pisha sandstone (PSS) with sandy soil in Mu Us Sandy Land is a viable agronomical measure to effectively reduce soil erosion and improve soil quality due to the complementary characters and structures of the two materials. Aggregate stability is an important indicator to assess sandy soil erosion resistance and quality, which could be largely affected by soil surface electrochemical properties and particle interaction forces. However, the effect of the compound ratio and particle interaction forces on the aggregate stability of compound soils with Pisha sandstone and sandy soil is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, the electrochemical properties, particle interaction forces, and their effects on the aggregate stability of PSS and sandy soil at five volume ratios (0:1, 1:5, 1:2, 1:1, and 1:0) were determined to clarify the internal force mechanism of PSS to increase sandy soil structural stability in a 10-year field experiment. Experiments were measured by a combined method for the determination of surface properties and aggregate water stability. A ten-year field study revealed that the incorporation of Pisha sandstone significantly enhanced the soil organic carbon (SOC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) (p < 0.05), while the CEC value notably increased from 4.68 to 13.76 cmol·kg−1 (p < 0.05). The soil surface potential (absolute value) and the electric field intensity gradually decreased with the increase in the Pisha sandstone content. For the compound soil particle interaction force, the addition of Pisha sandstone enhanced the van der Waals attraction force, reduced the net repulsive force between compound soil particles, and promoted the agglomeration of aeolian sandy soil. The overall trend of the aggregate breaking strength of compound soils under different addition ratios of PSS was 1:0 > 1:1 > 0:1 > 1:5 > 1:2. When the Pisha sandstone content in the compound soils was <50%, the aggregate stability was mainly influenced by compound soil particle interaction forces, and the interaction force increase was the key reason for the aggregate breakdown. When the Pisha sandstone content in the compound soils was ≥50%, the aggregate stability was affected by the combined effects of the compound soil particle composition and particle interaction forces. These results indicate that PSS addition ratios and particle interaction force are important factors affecting the structural stability of compound soils, in which the volume ratio of PSS to sandy soil of 1:2 is the appropriate ratio. Our study provides some theoretical references for further understanding of the compound soil structure improvement and sandy soil erosion control in Mu Us Sandy Land.

Examining legal and ethical challenges in HIV/AIDS disclosure obligations and medical practices: a case study from China

In accordance with China’s regulations on the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, individuals diagnosed with HIV are required to disclose their medical condition when soliciting medical care in Mainland China....